A radius of one kilometre around Woy Woy would be designated "medium density residential" under a plan being considered by Central Coast Council.

Woy Woy is one of five strategic centres identified in a draft urban plan that may eventually lead to a new local environment plan, the guidelines used for the assessment of development applications.

The town centres, with a radius of one kilometre, will "offer high amenity settings for medium density residential and maintain their distinctive characters" according to the draft plan which goes to council tonight (June 24).

If passed by the councillors, the draft urban spatial plan will go on public exhibition for 60 days and council will undertake community workshops in each of eight planning precincts identified in the local strategic planning statement that is part of the plan.

Woy Woy town centre is within one of those eight planning precincts. The entire peninsula is part of the one West Brisbane Water and Peninsula planning area.

Priorities for Woy Woy town centre include adopting a strategic plan to support population growth that will not generate unsustainable traffic impacts, while protecting the scenic quality and character of the area.

But it will also promote housing densities that will encourage socially diverse population and short stay accommodation "in a manner that does not impact connections and movement as well as limiting growth in environmental hazard areas".

Also, it wants to encourage revitalisation of Woy Woy through the development of a "cohesive domain approach strategy that supports a pleasant and safe town centre with housing, jobs, services, community facilities and entertainment for residents and visitors".

Umina will be a town centre, providing low to mid-rise living with some medium density housing as part of mixed-use areas in the commercial centre.

Specifically, Umina's priorities will be the creation of a civic area through enhancement of the useability of public space in the centre and providing safe public realm ensuring functionality for wide cross section of the community.

"Key attractors" will be connected by maximizing opportunities for ecological and environmental sustainability including rainwater recycling, energy efficiency, and cycling.

It will capitalize on amenity benefits by improving relationship between public and private spaces to the benefit of the public while fostering community ownership and approval as part of the renewal process and business community.

Another priority will be creating opportunity for innovative development and design.

Ettalong Beach has been designated a village with a range of 600 metres from the centre.

Priorities identified in the draft are to support local business and retain the existing amenity.

The built form is meant to be low to medium rise development with a focus on town houses and villa development.

The vision in the draft is the first stage in developing council's local strategic planning statement which it must deliver by July 2020 under State Government rules and which leads to a comprehensive local environment plan - and that's the plan that sets development guidelines.

As part of a separate process, character statements about places will be developed under a comprehensive review of the Central Coast Development Control Plan - another planning instrument.

Council will identify actions required for achieving the planning priorities, as well as the basis on which it will monitor and report on the implementation of those actions.

The State Government required all merged councils to develop an integrated vision which included prioritised land use planning.

Council's draft plan aims to provide the framework for the coast's growth and development over the next 20 years but it sits inside the directions of the NSW State Government's Central Coast Regional Plan 2036 and council's own Community Strategic Plan 2018.

Its role is to provide a clear direction for strategic planning instruments "to deliver housing diversity, transport improvements, a protected natural environment, infrastructure upgrades, economic and social vitality desired by the community, without compromising the identity, quality and nature of Central Coast living", according to the report to council.

These directions include revitalising town centres, upgrading public spaces and creating new housing types and improving "movement" networks and to "transform neighbourhoods into inclusive, adaptable, resilient and smart hubs of growth".

The report to the councillors says: "The draft Plan will ensure that the Central Coast of tomorrow will grow into a World Class Region that is smart, green and liveable with a shared sense of belonging and responsibility.

"Gosford Regional Centre will become a Living City Centre that acts as the Capital of the Central Coast, providing regional facilities and a positive local identity.

"Our other Centres will thrive with more living and working opportunities, providing key services to surrounding communities. Importantly, our communities will be physically connected through appropriate infrastructure and socially connected through strong relationships and sense of unity."

The report states that Woy Woy peninsula has had a population growth of between 0.5 per cent to one per cent in the years 2011 to 2016 and the same percentage growth is forecast for the next 10 years.

SOURCE"

Central Coast Council agenda 2.1, 24 Jun 2019

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